Susan S's diary about Rep. Bill Young and the scandal at Walter Reed Hospital, along with the subsequent St. Petersburg Times article about the situation, are real eye-openers. A sitting congressman, his wife, and his two sons are compelled to respond to accusations made about him in a newspaper blog!
What possessed them to do this? Answer below.
When people are this aggressively defensive about their actions, there is usually only one reason:
In their hearts, they know they were wrong.
I believe that Rep. Young and his wife are basically good people who honestly care about the welfare of veterans. But, their inaction in the face of what they knew to be wrong is a result of the corrosive influence of the moral bankruptcy of the Bush administration.
This is what happens when you brand your critics as traitors. This is what happens when you can't admit mistakes and foolishly "stay the course." This is what happens when you never hold anyone accountable until it's too late.
Young's involvement with the Walter Reed mess is equivalent to the Mark Foley scandal. House leaders knew about Foley's indiscretions AND DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
Rep. Young knew about the poor care at Walter Reed and DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
The fact that Mark Foley immediately resigned when the indiscretions were made public makes it clear there was a real problem. The fact that all the personnel in charge of Walter Reed are now being fired makes it clear that was a real problem, too.
Yet, in both cases, Republican congressmen who knew about the problem and had the power to make changes, chose NOT to do so!
Just as it was impossible to continue to trust the Republican House leadership after the Foley scandal, it is now impossible to continue to trust Rep. Young's ability to adequately serve the interets of the American people and their veterans.
Bill Young has had a remarkable career, but it is clear he needs to step down at the end of this term.
If our congressional representatives are not willing to break away from the shameful incompetence of the Bush administration, even after the rather clear message of the 2006 elections, then it will still be TIME FOR A CHANGE in 2008.
For a full explanation of Walter Reed's problems see Smintheus recommended diary
Originally posted at FLA Politics